News

40 jobs go as call centre shuts down

BEST Western International, the world’s biggest hotel chain, is planning to close its reservation call centre in Dublin next year with the loss of 40 jobs.

Staff were informed of the decision last week with the company announcing its intention to shut the office in mid 2004. It is believed to have made an early announcement of the closure as it had informed the landlord of its Lower Hatch Street base that it would not be renewing its lease.

The group, which also operates 20 hotels in Ireland, blamed the closure on an industry-wide increase in hotel reservations being booked through the internet, which has undermined the role played by call centres.

Will Jansen, vice-president of global reservations at Best Western, said: “This was a business decision made purely on the overcapacity in our current reservations operations.”

Best Western declined to comment further but it is understood that the decision